[Lord Charnwood's Study of the'
Man and hie Work By Dr. Arthur, Smith, Trsopons Rosssveiz. Lord eReenwonds Auticr of "Abcam Lincoln, "The Avantic Press, Boston. Pp. 232.
The well earned distinction which the author of the Life of Aiveaham Lincoln attained in the United States after the publication - of that important contribution to the literature the subject, is evidenced by the jet that three ''Impressions": of the present book were called for within "three months of its first "appearance. In the case of Lincoln there was need for English readers of a full exposition of his antecedents and achievements, for he lived more than two generations before that Life was written. Few Englishmen had ever geon - Lin-coin, who was very little understood by the educated class ut the British isles until after his tragic death. Theodore Roosevelt, om the contrary, was in ver Fecent times an internation figure. His visit to Europe contributed to the goety of nations, while his numerous public utterances elicited a tenipest of criticism as well as at times a storm of applause. So many volumes large and small have been written about Roosevelt that it might appear that there is absolutely nothing more to say, yet there is always an interest," in socing how an able, experienced, and impartial writer will handle an inherently important and difficult task.
Tt is no doubt an invariable source of irritation to the people of any: country to read a book about one of their countrymen,. written by a non resident' foreigner, when assumes an air of omnisei his dicta had exp by reason of is Tack of qualification for his task. From any failure of this sort, Lord Charnwood is conspicuously free. He incidentally commends Admiral Mahan's two volume Life of Lord Nelson, as one of fow biographies of great Englishman, adding that the people of England owe any clear idea of the importance of England's ea-power to Mahan's Great treatises on that subject.
the author's chapter on nineteenth Century America, ko is careful to begin by romarking: "Tt may be best to hazard here some crude and hasty 1eniarks upon the course of the national development up till then.""
And at the close of the chapter he adds: "I would re. peat how fully conscious I am of the crudeness and probable inaccuracy ax well as the fraq. mentary nature of this survey." Such an atti arms obvious sympathy of the suther with the ideals of the object of his studies gives aewurance that whatever judgments he cxproses will not_be hasty, ill cunsidered, or due to inadequate i formation.
In matters where hig national Prejudices might huve been expected to bias his judgment Lord Chamwood displays a rare capacity for complete detach ment. 'This is especially illustrated in diis treatment of' the Alaskan boundary dispute. After five or six pages on the Subject he concludes with the judgment that Mr. Roosevelt worked most honestly for the cause of friendship between our Beoples, which neither more nor Jess than that of friendship tween America and "hor hours generally heart." In di ho saxe: "Phare dwelt upon this matter at such length because it seems to me a good test case of Toosevelt's manner and spirit in his dealings, and hecaue 1 happen to have a very warm affection for Canada and a passionate interest in the evolution of the British Brapire.
I do not want to be dogmatic, bat I think it perhaps signif cant that I began studying thi point with feelings of intense indignation "aguinst. Roosevelt, and that I and with the absolute conviction' that he did a very able and 2 mesh right and friendly thing."
Still more spece is devoted to the matter of the (Panama State and its relation to the Canal, where ae ho says, "American comments have often been very severe upon the most conspicuous instance where he gave a swift decision in dubious circumstances." After an extended discussion he concludes that senator Hoar was "in error" in his antagonism. of the. Pananja. State, on the ground that the sovereignty of Marquini over the people of Panama was that of a usurper. "That the American Congress ultimate. ly paid a handsome bonus to Columbia did not settle the njoral principle involved;—but merely the political question whether it way not worth while to spend a few million dollars rather than to have a dissatis fied and perhaps permanently hostile neighbour, OF Roosevelt's informational sympathy at the time of hi can visit, we have sample in a quotation from his writings. 'Germany has the arrogance of a very strong power, as yot almost. untouched by that feeble aspiration toward international equity. which one or two strong powers, notably England and Asmorica," at least begin to feel." Upon' this Lord Charnwood remarks: Words of more exact justice could hardly have been chevon." Tt is teresting to have it suggested in the same connexion that perhaps Roosevelt enjoyed being on parade with William 11 as twin stage figure; doubt hho enjoyed the moment, if it true, "that the latter potentate having craved an audience with an. appointment Humphrey Ward Mr. Wilvon, Lord Charn-Mood docs not hesitate to. wri "in my ym, thin singaar and poworfulfiguro appears an. evil Bure, which it may be vight to Pity bu ib can not do right te of this diseonsion of Guo whom ire." The closing paragraph
Englishman once spoke of at "The foremost figure. in vivilization to-day," admits the author's favourable predisposition towards the subject of hin study. began this book by avowing a hero-worship of Jong standing. T donot. mean by hero-worship any disposition to found a cult of the hero, to se his name bs rallying cry for party, oF to shape' one's Life in any spirit of discipleship to. him, There is only. one honest and used "discipleship possible men, Great men "are only worthily honoured if the. honour we pay them provokes us, the weakest or the stupidest, to stand resolutely erect, and least of all would Theodore Roosevelt be worthily admired by anyone when the power of hig menial physical machinery should impress us ax Che veal wonder of his
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.